Axis DOW Algeria and Tunis - MP?

[ThunderLizard11]

As Axis, should I DOW Algeria and/or Tunis before the Allied player does? They get taken down in one turn which is a bit of cheese so should Axis do this preemptively? MP game.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

I'm usually too busy for that Operation. Have you considered not accepting French Surrender so Vichy is not formed?

[ThunderLizard11]

ORIGINAL: ElvisJJonesRambo

I'm usually too busy for that Operation. Have you considered not accepting French Surrender so Vichy is not formed?

What else is needed to capitulate France then and how difficult?

[Michael WIldner]

My tactic that has worked the last two times I've played the 1939 Campaign vs the AI is that before the UK and France declare war on Italy, I spend a couple turns transporting the Italian infantry back to Italy to boost them up to strength 10. I transport other Italian units that are already at 10 to the border near Tripoli to start building up. As soon as France and Italy are at war, charge for Tunis, and if you can bring in more support from Italy or Sicily via amphibious transport, do it! Also base the bombers in Sicily so they can reach Tunis, and you should be able to take it. You can try to get some support from the Italian navy, if the French and British have been neutralized or at least scaled down - they can make life for the Italian navy very short. Then you can continue on to Algiers. If you can do this before the Germans take Paris, there will be no Vichy. I've done this in combination with deploying the Afrika Korps, concentrating them in the Tobruk area, and I usually try to send an extra unit or two along with them to North Africa. You will need them to help the Italians against the British, once they start putting pressure on Tobruk. It's critical, because if you can manage to break the British here, the Afrika Korps can continue on fairly easily into the Middle East, and the rich Oil Field resources, with the end goal being to put added pressure on the USSR via the Caucasus - and more Oil resources. This will at least make the USSR divert forces off the main Eastern Front, which in turn makes the advance on Moscow and Stalingrad a bit easier. In one of my games the Afrika Korps was able to break through and take Stalingrad before Moscow fell!

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

ORIGINAL: ThunderLizard2


What else is needed to capitulate France then and how difficult?

Not sure, have not rejected the French surrender. Capital probably moves to Algeria? Chasing units off the Mainland should be easy enough, will cost a little damage & time. All the auxiliary locations probably easy scoop ups for English. Probably doesn't make the Americans, Spanish & the usual suspects happy. Might screw with the Axis Minors, no idea. Needs play tested.

[eriador08]

The Capital moves to Algier. The problem with rejecting Vichy without capturing Algier first is, that supply for french troops in N. Africa gets better. They also get some reeinforcements there.
If France manages to hold on long enough they get some moral boost.
If france did not surrender until October, the event for declaring war on greece with italy gets canceled.

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

@eriador08 --- Thanks for the info. I'm not big on the Greek invasion. Usually engaged in so other combat in seems. Italians need help crawling through those mountains.

[amandkm]

I find it worthwhile to send the Italian tanks to the Tunisian border prior to the DoW if I feel like trying this. It helps speed the attack. You can also send an HQ to support the drive. And don't forget that you can Operate paratroops down to southern Italy, then move to Sicily for an airdrop to support the attack as well.

[ThunderLizard11]

ORIGINAL: amandkm

I find it worthwhile to send the Italian tanks to the Tunisian border prior to the DoW if I feel like trying this. It helps speed the attack. You can also send an HQ to support the drive. And don't forget that you can Operate paratroops down to southern Italy, then move to Sicily for an airdrop to support the attack as well.

Makes sense - but is it worthwhile to avoid letting Allies take N. Africa? Any negative diplo effect?

[amandkm]

I've not seen one, but when I pull this, France (and Algeria and Tunisia) are still at war with Germany and Italy, so it's not a new aggression, so I don't think any hit would occur.